Some travelers trace the history of a place through its architecture. Others get the backstory by focusing on food, while still others study its art. For collectors, the obvious path is through local antiques shops, where stacks of pottery, walls of quirky wire objects, and piles of homespun linen offer lessons in a towns history. This is just one of the advantages of spending a weekend browsing on foot rather than online. The other benefits depend on where you go.

In bucolic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, there are short drives along rural roads from one small town to the next. In Houston, antiquing means strolling along a handsome boulevard and exploring a neighborhood filled with artists, writers, and musicians. U.S. 101 winds through small Northern California towns teeming with character. Whether you're looking for classic Americana, Arts and Crafts, or mid-century modern, each of these three vastly different regions has something distinct to offer -- and teach.

Houston
The Lone Star State's largest metropolis has had a love affair with all things Gallic since the Mexican-American War, when France offered diplomatic support. In the Museum District, adjacent to downtown, more than 25 dealers are happy to oblige. At Skelton-St. John, Continental furnishings are arranged like sculptures in a spare 6,000-square-foot space. Garden furniture and accessories are Bill Gardner's (no kidding) specialty. At M. Naeve, the young owner purveys pristine architectural antiques. The Heights District, 15 minutes away, has a more bohemian vibe. Heights Station, an 1895 carriage barn, bursts with the contents of many attics. Farther off the beaten path is Installations Antiques, a more than 100-year-old warehouse and work space where Becki and Jur van der Oord display European primitives, glass, and irresistible objects from Jur's native Netherlands.